Me: Hey God I got some more sin to confess.
God: You sure do! Confess away. I’m ready. (1 John 1:8-10)
Me: Lying.
God: Forgiven!
Me: Stealing?
God: Say no more.
Me: Rage, covetousness, gossip.
God: Check, check, check!
Me: Think that’s it.
God: What about the porn?
Me: I don’t really think it’s that big a deal for me right now.
God: Really? Well then I guess I don’t have to forgive it then.
Me: Well would you anyway?
God: Would I what?
Me: Forgive my occasional porn habit.
God:
I didn’t die to forgive habits. I died to forgive sin. – God
So did you want to confess that sin? (Romans 5:7-9)
Me: Well I don’t really feel like it’s a sin.
God: Say no more! I’m not going to force you to agree with me.
(Job 22:21)
Me: But I don’t do it a lot.
God: It wouldn’t matter if you did. My forgiveness is infinite. (Psalm 103:11-13) So what do you say? Want forgiveness for that porn?
Me: So are you saying you’ll only forgive my sin if I confess it?
God: I already forgave that sin.
Me: Oh great! Then we’re good.
God: Well I AM good.
Me: Touche!
God:
Every sin you ever have or ever will commit has already been paid for; once and for all. All of that happened on the cross. – God
However, just because you pay for something (in this case: me) and offer it to someone (in this case: you) doesn’t mean that your gift will be accepted. (Romans 6:9-11 and John 3:16-21)
Me: What are you trying to say?
God: I’m saying this. Any gift must be received to be enjoyed. (John 1:11-13) Would you like to receive the gift of forgiveness I’m offering to cover your porn problem.
Me: Well I wouldn’t exactly call it a problem.
God: You know what? If this is something you have under control and choose to do voluntarily, at will, then I guess you don’t really need my help.
Me: No. You’re getting this all wrong.
God: Silly me. Sometimes I overestimate my own omniscience.
Me: That was sarcasm, wasn’t it?
God: At least we can agree on something!
Me: What I’m saying is, that it’s not that bad.
God: Who said anything about bad? Sin doesn’t bring bad. It brings death. That’s why I had to die. If sin was only bad, then perhaps I could have merely endured betrayal, humiliation and scourging, and then called it a day. But…
Sin brings death so I had to die. For your sin. Including your porn. – God
But I also rose again, which means something even more wonderful for you. (Co 2:13-15) It means I can help you overcome this sin, which is, in my humble opinion, far better than mere forgiveness. (Romans 6:14-21)
That is, if you’re willing to call porn what it is. (Isaiah 1:18-20)
Your call.
Want to continue this conversation about PORN? Check out our Hot Topic resource page dedicated to leading you into freedom from porn.
DNA: It’s What’s For Dating
Dug this weekend’s DNA? Be a good friend and share with your friends on the social media platform of choice: Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, or Twitter.
The LoveEd discipleship series, Beyond Sex & Salvation, will empower you to prepare for relational success when it counts: BEFORE you fall in love!
It’s NOT for couples, but for any wise individual who thinks they might want to get married sometime before they die. And would like to learn how to better build healthy relationships in the meantime.
Check out all three study guides in our store. You can walk through them on your own, but it’s more fun with friends (that and it kinda makes sense to grow in relational success in actual relationships with others), so consider putting together an FMU LoveEd small group study.
[originally published: 3/11/15]
